Seanad debates
Wednesday, 10 December 2003
Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Defamation: Statements.
It is important to look at the libel laws. Matters of public interest should be ventilated, but there is a real duty to protect the ordinary citizen. People who are accused, in particular, of rather nasty sexual crimes often have, as a matter of practice, their names, addresses and occupations printed in newspapers and they may be found not guilty. What happens then? That man or woman's reputation is destroyed forever. It should not be legal to print the name of an accused person until he or she is convicted because the printing of the name is part of the punishment. The argument is that it should be held in public. It is held in public in a public court. Those closest to it and those who have a real interest can be present in the court as is their entitlement. In my opinion, newspapers are not entitled to destroy the reputation of a person who is held and presumed to be innocent until he or she is found guilty. The newspapers do it every day of the week. I have even seen such articles accompanied by photographs. What is the redress for those who are innocent and have been so found by the courts? Their reputations have been destroyed by such matters being published in this manner. I ask the Minister to examine this matter.
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